The Qatari backed club, linked with dispensing with the services of Carlo Ancelotti just over half a year ago, then actively courted his long term stay after an impressive end to the season for the Parisians in which they clinched a first Ligue 1 title in 20 years and got to the quarter finals of the Champions League, only losing to Barcelona on away goals.
It was quite an impressive achievement by Ancelotti in the end, who continues his superb personal record in management, having guided clubs in Italy, England and now France to the league title – also winning the Champions League twice. He is a bit of an Italian Jose Mourinho, only with attacking football, humility and respect for the opposition.
So with Ancelotti set to join Real Madrid, having asked to leave almost as soon as PSG had lifted the league title, Paris St Germain embarked on their search for a new manager. At first they wanted Arsene Wenger, before waking up to the reality that the Frenchman was unwilling to break his contract with Arsenal. They had also sounded out Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Manuel Pellegrini and those soundings came to nothing.
Then they looked to England again and considered Michael Laudrup, who seemed to get involved in a dispute with Swansea which threatened to end his one year stint in Wales, but appears to have patched things up there again now. Laudrup seemingly off the table, what about Tottenham’s Andre Villas Boas? Not happening, says AVB, who wanted to stay at a club for a second season for the first time in his short career to date. Fabio Capello next – that failed as Capello was offered a one year deal and felt they still wanted Wenger.
In the end they will go for Laurent Blanc, with reports by L’Equipe suggesting he is the new focus of their attentions. He is a good manager but it smacks a bit of the problems Chelsea have had, where few coaches actually wanted to join them and they were forced to go back to Mourinho. PSG’s manager hunt has been shambolic though, with their search becoming public and embarrassment that so many top coaches don’t want to manage the Parc des Princes outfit.
Meanwhile, the rest of Europe waits. Real Madrid’s transfer dealings are held up until Ancelotti’s arrival, and that means other teams wait too. Isco can’t sign from Malaga, although he may go to Man City anyway, and Gonzalo Higuaín can’t leave for Arsenal until then either. Edinson Cavani and Gareth Bale are also on the Real hit list and Ancelotti’s arrival is necessary before either could come in, presumably. The same goes for Luka Modric if he was to leave the club a year after signing.
So Europe should keep its eyes on what is going on in Paris. When the club finally appoint their new coach, we are likely to see a restart of the transfer market, being kicked back into action, with PSG themselves getting going again in their spending after they’ve appointed a new coach. They have plenty of money of course, and will want to make a statement of their own after Monaco’s extravagant summer spending so far. So let’s just hope PSG hurry up and get someone appointed soon, it will liven up the European transfer window no end.
